Josh Rock and Mike de Decker make World Series debut in Australia and New Zealand as field confirmed for double header

Mike De Decker and Josh Rock will make their first appearances on the World Series of Darts stage Down Under in August. The Belgian has been invited by the PDC to participate in both the Australian Darts Masters and the New Zealand Darts Masters.

The annual tour "Down Under" starts August 8 and 9 in Australia's Wollongong, where the Australian Darts Masters will be played. A week later, the darters travel on to Auckland for the New Zealand Darts Masters on Aug. 15 and 16. In both tournaments, eight top PDC players will compete against eight regional talents from Oceania.

For De Decker, the invitation means a new milestone in his career. The 29-year-old player surprisingly won the World Grand Prix last year and managed to put himself firmly on the international map. This year he knocked his compatriot Dimitri Van den Bergh off the throne as Belgian number one and even reached the final of a European Tour tournament in March.

De Decker is also competing this weekend at the World Matchplay, where he is aiming to break into the world's top 16. His selection for the World Series confirms that he has at least put himself in the thought process of the PDC after some thought he was unfairly snubbed for the Premier League.

Northern Irishman Josh Rock is also making his debut during the World Series Down Under. Rock was partly responsible for Northern Ireland's historic final victory at the World Cup of Darts just last month, and already sealed a semifinal place at the UK Open and a fifth title on the Pro Tour this year.

In addition to Rock and De Decker, world champion Luke Littler and world number one Luke Humphries are also expected in Australia and New Zealand. Humphries is defending champion in Auckland, Littler surprisingly lost the final in Wollongong last year to Gerwyn Price, who is defending his title in Australia this time. Also traveling are Stephen Bunting and Chris Dobey, both active in the Premier League, as well as home favorite Damon Heta, Australia's number one.

Regional representation includes Australian icon Simon Whitlock, New Zealand Tour Card holder Haupai Puha and DPNZ qualifier Jonny Tata. From the DPA, Joe Comito, Tim Pusey and James Bailey have also qualified, while Brody Klinge and Brandon Weening are making their television debut. The latter though played at the WDF World Championship at Lakeside.

New Zealand is adding several more local stars, including Mark Cleaver, Ben Robb, John Hurring and debutant Dean Reyland. Gordon Mathers, a former Tour Card holder from Australia, qualified via DPA qualification.

Both tournaments will be played with a field of 16 players. In the first round, a PDC player and a regional representative each compete. The second day of play is all about the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals.

Gerwyn Price won last year's Australian Darts Masters after a dominant 8-1 victory over Littler. In New Zealand, it was Humphries who grabbed the title with an 8-2 win over Heta.